Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna knows all about Marcus Rashford having worked up close with the Aston Villa loanee during the pair’s time together at Manchester United – and he is of the belief that the forward, who remains a ‘big talent’, has moved to a ‘good club to work under a ‘top manager’ in Unai Emery.

Rashford has joined Villa from United on loan for the remainder of the season having been cleared to leave Old Trafford by manager Ruben Amorim; indeed it wouldn’t appear as though Rashford has any long-term future at the club under the Portuguese boss. Villa moved to offer him regular football and a crack at the Champions League.

The Red Devils academy product worked with McKenna, who brings his side to Villa Park on Saturday and reunites with – and is looking to blunt the abilities of – Rashford, who scored against Ipswich at Portman Road for United in Amorim’s first game in charge in November.

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Having build up a strong bond with Rashford, McKenna believes that he must do so again at Villa having lost his way under the new regime at United – if that occurs, the Lions will benefit from his undoubted talent.

“Yes, he was enjoyable to work with, of course, a big talent,” McKenna said. “I had known him for a little bit longer because he’d come through the academy set up and I joined the academy set up just after he’d progressed to the first team but we faced him in the FA Youth Cup.

“I was close with the academy coaches who worked with him so it was pretty easy for me to build a good relationship and a good trust with him and he’s not so much of a young player anymore but he was when I worked on that. Most young players, building that trust and that rapport is important.

“We managed to have that and he’s a big talent so hopefully this will be a good move for him in terms of getting back into form and playing regularly which I’m sure he’ll want to do and I’m sure he had some different options and has made his judgement on the right criteria.

“He certainly went to a good club to play under a top manager whose team are still in a lot of competitions. So yes, I hope it goes well for him but of course not on Saturday.”